By Olasunkanmi Akoni
LAGOS—Men of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a suspect, Segun Akintola, an alleged kingpin of a syndicate that specialises in defrauding people. Other members of the group were also arrested.

some of his suspected gang members

The suspect, popularly known as Okadigbo, was apprehended by a decoy team of the squad in his shrine at Ijora over his involvement in fraud perpetrated by his four-man gang.

The fraud, which was reportedly perpetrated in Ikorodu about a year ago, was supervised by an accomplice, Christian Odokor, 43. The syndicate had duped a lady (names withheld) while in transit from Ikorodu to Mile 12, where the victim had planned to buy some goods.

According to investigation, Okadigbo is the arrow head of several syndicates of fraudsters operating in different parts of Lagos State and some parts of Ogun State.

The members of his syndicate, it was learned, report to his shrine regularly, where their nefarious activities were always planned.

Until his arrest over the weekend, four of his accomplices earlier arrested by the security operatives had given him out as their leader.

Okadigbo, until his arrest according to police, had remained elusive throughout 2016.

‘m not fraudsters’ leader, they only use my shrine— Okadigbo

While confessing to being a fraudster, Okadigbo, who operated by pretending to be a herbs seller in parts of the metropolis, denied being the leader of the syndicate.

According to him, “it is true they used my shrine and office. They bring their victims there but everybody operated on their own. They all assemble there, but everybody managed their group.

“Although, the fake dollars they used are mine, I don’t know anything about this job for which they have been arrested.

“I operate by selling herbs, but market money rituals to people as well as herbs for people looking for children. I do spiritual bath for clients and that is how I defraud people and make my money.”